According to WHO global estimates in 2014, more than 1.9 billion adults, 18 years and older, were overweight. Of these over 600 million were obese. Overall, about 13% of the world’s adult population (11% of men and 15% of women) was obese. In 2013, 42 million children under the age of 5 were overweight or obese. Overweight and obesity are now on the rise in low and middle-income countries. In developing countries with emerging economies the rate of increase of childhood overweight and obesity has been more than 30% higher than that of developed countries. The worldwide prevalence of obesity has been more than doubled between 1980 and 2014. By seeing the severity of the condition WHO initiated to have World Obesity Day on 11th October.
The Chief Guest of the programme was Mrs Bhavani, Anganwadi teacher, Madaga. Mrs.Asha Nayak, Asha worker and the Secretary of self-help group, Mrs. Ansuya, Asst. Professor, Dept. of Community Health Nursing, MCON Manipal were the resource persons.
The programme commenced with a role play by students of 4th year B.Sc (N) on causes, classification & types of obesity and power point presentation by Ms.Anusha D’Souza, 4th year BSc(N) student, followed by a talk on prevention and management of obesity by Mrs.Ansuya, Asst. Professor, Dept. of Community Health Nursing. She emphasized on childhood obesity, mothers are encouraged to engage their children in more physical activity and to provide healthy diet to their children and also demonstrated the exercises.
